Rebaptize

Rebaptize refers to the practice of administering baptism to a person who has already received the rite. In Christian contexts, rebaptism can occur when a person joins a denomination that does not recognize a prior baptism, or when a church believes a previous baptism was invalid or inadequate in form, intention, or meaning.

Reasons for rebaptism include adherence to beliefs about believers’ baptism—baptism based on personal faith rather than infancy—by groups such as Anabaptists and some evangelical churches, a transition from infant baptism to a profession of faith, or concerns about the validity of a baptism performed in another church or tradition.

Historically, the question of rebaptism was central in several controversies. In the Donatist controversy (4th–5th centuries), some groups insisted on rebaptism for those who had been baptized elsewhere; Augustine argued for baptism’s validity if performed with proper form, regardless of the church.

Today, practices vary. Many mainline Catholic and Protestant churches view baptism as a one-time sacrament; if a baptism is recognized as valid, no rebaptism is needed, and a transfer typically involves profession of faith and reception into the community. Some groups that practice infant baptism but emphasize personal faith may perform rebaptism for adults who were baptized as infants. In cases of doubt about validity, some churches perform a conditional baptism.

Rebaptism remains controversial and is largely determined by a denomination’s doctrinal beliefs about the nature and sufficiency of baptism.